If someone is missing 18 years old and believed to be out with his girlfriend, is that something you should immediately let your supervisor know?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Only if they are missing for more than 24 hours
• D. Only if there are minors involved

Answer: (B)

Missing adults are handled differently from missing minors. An 18-year-old is an adult, so there isn’t an automatic need to alert a supervisor immediately unless there are red flags indicating danger or vulnerability. In this scenario, you would follow standard missing-person procedures for an adult: document last known location and time, description, clothing, vehicle if any, and known associates; reach out to friends or family and check common places; initiate checks in dispatch systems and coordinate welfare checks if new information suggests risk. Only if new information comes up that suggests the person could be in danger, harmed, or otherwise at risk would you escalate to your supervisor right away. If a minor were involved, or if there were clear signs of foul play or exploitation, escalation would be appropriate from the start.